“We are starting with our more labor-intensive secondary operations,” he said. “We will eventually expand into molding. … We primarily manufacture high-cosmetic molded plastic enclosures for specialty equipment.

In a news release, the company said its Premold Corp. México SA de CV affiliate began pilot production in October and full production in December.

The 20,000-square-foot plant, which Premold leases in Apodaca, near Monterrey, is Premold’s second. Its headquarters plant in Oconomowoc, Wis. near Milwaukee, is 68,000 square feet.

Premold Corp.Premold's new plant in Mexico.

“Our Monterrey… factory will allow us to produce lower cost parts with the same quality and delivery for our customers,” said President Ken Schweitz, underscoring the “logistical advantages” for customers in Mexico, Central and South America.

The company will “continue to expand” its Wisconsin factory, Schweitz said.

Premold makes plastics housings, bezels and enclosures for specialty equipment and the life sciences customers. RIM is commonly used for applications like laboratory equipment enclosures and medical carts because they are produced in lower volumes but still need quality surface finishes like conventional injection molding.

Boettcher said the investment in facilities, equipment, people and training had been “substantial.” But he declined to divulge the size of the company’s cash investment.

Asked about the 2017 sales target for the Apodaca plant, Boettcher replied: “Our targets are quality, training and customer satisfaction targets. Sales targets will come as we build our foundation.”

The company plans to export more than half the plant’s output. “For the foreseeable future most will go to North America, Europe and Asia,” Boettcher said. Asked which markets have the greatest potential, he responded: “Europe and Asia in the near term. South America is growing.”

On the question of staff, Boettcher said: “Mexico and the Apodaca region have many resources. [The region’s] people, with their excellent work skills and strong desire to improve their lives, have earned excellent reputations worldwide as a workforce.”